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Ala Moana isn't a city or even a town, but a small neighborhood in Honolulu just west of Waikiki on the southeastern shore of the island of Oahu that's a one-shop stop for tourists. You'll find great shopping, entertainment and, of course, the warm white sands of Hawaii all within steps of one another. The neighborhood isn't huge, but you could spend an entire day relaxing in Ala Moana.

Shopping

The Ala Moana Center (alamoanacenter.com) is what draws many visitors to the area. This mall is not your typical American shopping center; its open-air design allows you to feel the ocean breezes while strolling the central hallways. More than 100 shops have outposts at Ala Moana. Many of the Ala Moana Center's stores appeal to average shoppers – at time of publication, chains such as Sears and Old Navy operate in the mall – but you'll also find luxury retailers like Prada and Tiffany & Co. Another shopping area, the Ward Centers (wardcenters.com), sits two blocks to the west and houses additional chain stores like Nordstrom Rack as well as several shops that cater to surfers and other activity-minded visitors.

Beaches and Parks

If you're going to travel all the way to Hawaii, you'll likely want to spend your time as close to the beach as possible. Luckily, you can get from the malls to the beach in two minutes flat. The Ala Moana Beach Park (honolulu.gov) sits just on the other side of Ala Moana Boulevard from the Ala Moana Center. The 76-acre park includes grassy areas and a beach with concession stands. In the water, an artificial reef protects the area from strong waves and allows for peaceful swimming -- ideal if you're traveling with children. Just down the shoreline, on the western edge of the neighborhood, you'll find the Kaka'ako Waterfront Park (hcdaweb.org). Roam the 30 acres of hilly green space or walk the promenade that winds along the ocean.

Dining and Nightlife

In Ala Moana, the fun doesn't end when the sun goes down. The malls are home to several restaurants. Try the Ala Moana Center, where the fare is mostly standard American food served at chains like Ruby Tuesday (rubytuesday.com). But you'll also find a few bars with island flavor like the Mai Tai (maitaibar.com), where local bands play every night. For upscale dining with a view of the water, make a reservation at Mariposa (neimanmarcushawaii.com), a restaurant in the Ala Moana Center's Neiman Marcus store, where you'll sit on an outdoor lanai while enjoying Pacific cuisine. If you want to dance, try Rumours (outrigger.com), a nightclub inside the Ala Moana Hotel.

Other Attractions

Ala Moana offers more than just shopping and white sand. The area is also home to the Hawaii Children's Discovery Center (discoverycenterhawaii.org), a museum that houses exhibits about varied topics from Hawaiian rainbows to the human body. The museum schedules regular events that appeal to children of all ages. If you're itching to get out on the water, consider scuba diving with Rainbow Scuba (rainbowscuba.com) or chartering a fishing trip with Maggie Joe Sport Fishing (maggiejoe.com); both companies operate out of the Kewalo Basin boat harbor at the western end of the Ala Moana Beach Park.

About the Author

Cooking, travel and parenting are three of Kathryn Walsh's passions. She makes chicken nuggets during days nannying, whips up vegetarian feasts at night and road trips on weekends. Her work has appeared to The Syracuse Post-Standard and insider magazine. Walsh received a master's degree in journalism from Syracuse University.